How impressive was Verstappen?

On his Monaco debut, Max Verstappen was second to Lewis Hamilton in first practice. BEN ANDERSON analyses how the rookie achieved that feat and explains why it wasn't just a low fuel load

Rain curtailed any hope of seeing this year's field use Pirelli's new super-soft tyre and go for a fast laptime around the streets of the Principality, so the most interesting aspect of the opening free practice sessions for this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix was the performance of a certain 17-year-old driver who many outsiders argue is too young to even be in Formula 1.

If any more proof were needed that Max Verstappen belongs at this level he produced some more of it in practice one in Monaco.